CHIPPENHAM proved that last week's friendly nine try rout was no fluke and repeated the try count against bottom of the league Ivel Barbarians.

Another nine tries saw them record their second successive 50 plus point victory in two weeks.

The Chippenham line-up lacked three first team regulars. Loose head prop John Beart, lock Kevin Thornton and centre and team captain, Rupert Crockett.

Barbarians were promoted to the league last year but the home side were not taking that to mean that Saturday's game at Allington Field was going to be a pushover. Indeed, Chippenham found themselves on the wrong end of a 0-8 lead after only ten minutes. An early unconverted try and a magnificent penalty kick from just inside the Chippenham half giving rise to the visitors taking a 0-8 lead.

But Chippenham regrouped and came back strongly at Barbarians. The first try came from fly-half Grant Trewarth, converted by Andy Williams. Williams also kicked a penalty and this was followed by another try from Koroi Misimi.

Barbarians responded and were awarded two penalties in quick succession, neither of which were converted.

Chippenham then lost a player for a disgraceful lack of discipline from try scorer Misimi. He was shown a straight red card for throwing a punch at a Barbarian player.

Now down to fourteen players, Chippenham had to defend and Barbarians took full advantage of the extra player. Their number 14, John Bokes collecting the ball and ran in under the posts for Barbarians second try of the match. This gave them back the lead, albeit a slender one at 16-17.

This seemed to kick-start Chippenham back on the try trail. Trewartha scoring his second of the match, converted by Williams and this was followed by a lovely break through the centre of the pitch by Chippenham. The ball was gathered by winger Darren McMillan who ran from the half-way line to score under the posts. Again the conversion was added by Williams to make it 31-16.

The remainder of the first half was best remembered for the flashes of further ill-disicipline from both sides and Barbarians found themselves a man short as their try scorer, Bokes was sent to the sin-bin.

With the teams now even in numbers,. Chippenham opened up and ended the half with a try from Williams who missed the conversion and went into the break with a very healthy 36-16 lead.

The first try of the second half was the second for McMillan. The ball being kicked into space and a cruel bounce saw the Barbarian cover fluff the catch. It was a simple matter for the waiting McMillan to grab the loose ball and stroll over the line for the try.

Alex Ferraday added the next try, with a fine jinking run to the line. Williams adding the conversion to make it 48-16.

By this stage of the match, Barbarians appeared to look tired where as Chippenham still looked dangerous on the break. A scrum on the half-way line, fed out by Williams to Ferraday saw him vitually run from the half-way line to touch down.

But Barbarians got their second wind and their number 12 Emylyn Kuhn intercepted a loose pass and headed for the Chippenham try line. He was ably chased by Nick Doyle who managed to catch his man and bring him down.

There then followed a short period of pressure from Barbarians and Chippenham had to defend. But they weathered the pressure and hit back, pressurising the Barbarian tryline.

In the closing minutes of the match, McMillan completed his hat-trick and the game seemed over. Barbarians had other ideas and scored a consolation try which was converted.

Coach Rob Alford said: "With the score at 17-16, down to 14 men and an hour to play, my thoughts were not printable. But that said, we turned around and played some of the best rugby we have played all season.''

The win sees Chippenham record nine wins out of nine. On Saturday they host Reading Abbey for what could be the league decider.

Alford said: "It would be nice if we could make it ten out of ten on Saturday.''

Chippenham 2nd 51Ivel Barbarians 5

CHIPPENHAM'S second team notched up a convincing win against a weakened Barbarians side without ever really performing to their potential at Allington Field on Saturday.

Despite Chippenham opening the scoring with an early try from full back Pete Rigby, the opening twenty minutes of the game were closely contested as Chippenham repeatedly infringed at the breakdown.

These infringements allowed Ivel several opportunities to reduce the deficit. Three attempts at goal were all missed however and Chippenham began to dominate the game.

The pressure soon told and three more tries were scored before half time. Team captain Dave Williams, number eight Stuart King and making his debut for Chippenham, winger Nigel Swain the scorers.

The second half was one way traffic with Chippenham seemingly able to score at will. Fly half Paul Clifford started the second half scoring with right winger Julian Squires completing his hat-trick of tries with the last move of the game.

Commenting on the victory afterwards, Chippenham captain Dave Williams said: "The game was won with a disjointed team performance. The Cup final is looming ever closer and it is imperative that we as a team work hard in training to improve our performances in order to be successful and earn some silverware this season.''

Frome 2nds 0 Chippenham 3rd 9

THE game was a fine, defensive display which earned Chippenham a hard fought league win against a well drilled Frome side.

Chippenham started well, keeping the home side penned back inside their own half for long periods of time.

But Frome responded with some good attacking play and the game developed into a keenly fought contest with some strong defensive play being seen from both sides.

As the first half wore on, Chippenham's pack gradually took control of the forward battle and as the pressure from the visitors increased, Frome conceded a penalty kick which the Chippenham fly-half, Ceri Morris converted for the first points of the game.

Further pressure from Chippenham forces their opponents into increasingly desperate defence and finally forced Frome to condede a further penalty which Morris again converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead going into the half time break.

The second half saw Chippenham playing against the wind, and it was their turn to be pinned back inside their own half for long stretches.

As each Frome attack was repelled by some ferocious tackling in particular from Paul Baker, Steve Ashman and James and Chris Cook.

After withstanding the onslaught, Chippenham fought back, with their forwards and their backs combining well to once again apply the pressure to the Frome try line.

With the home side becomingly increasingly frustrated, some ill discipline allowed Morris to seal the win for Chippenham with a long range penalty goal.